The Scottish Naturalist. 



43 



Habit of Polyommatus Artaxerxes — I have noted, and Mr. W. Herd 

 tells me that he has done the same, that this butterfly has a particular affection 

 for blue flowers. While collecting near Kinfauns one day, I was much struck 

 by the attraction a tall plant with blue flowers seemed to possess for P. Artaxer- 

 xes. Over and over again I took specimens off this plant, and in a very short 

 time fresh individuals would arrive and settle on the flowers. Not being a bota- 

 nist, I regret that I am unable to give the name of the plant. — James Stewart, 

 High Street, Perth. [From Mr. Stewart "s description to me, the plant is proba- 

 bly the Field Scabious ( Knautia arvensisj, and another blue flower, the Bugloss 

 {Lycopsis arvensis), seems also to be attractive to the little Artaxerxes.— Ed.] 



Pyrochroa pectinicornis.— Though I cannot give an accurate answer to 

 the query of Mr. Hislop as to the time of appearance of Pyrochroa pectinicornis^ 

 I think I can give some indication on the subject. Its two English congeners 

 both appear in the Spring in the perfect state ; one of them often in April, the 

 other in May. Turner certainly captured his specimens of pectinicornis in the 

 Spring ; and I think it probable that the first spell of fine weather in May would 

 see it about in the localities where it occurs. I may add that Turner told me it 

 was a nocturnal species, and that he found it "coming to light" when he was 

 sugaring for moths ; but I should hesitate to accept this without confirmation. — 

 U. Sharp, Eccles, Thornhill, Dumfries. 



THE CAPERCAILLIE.* 

 Tcfrao Urogaiius i Cabar Coille. 



By Robert Gray. 



"PERTHSHIRE and Forfarshire are at present the strong- 

 -*• hold in Britain of this fine game bird. In these counties 

 it breeds extensively, and has become so firmly established that 

 proprietors of the forests in which it is found do not now object 

 to its falling to the sportsman's gun. In some places, indeed, 

 it has been thought prudent to thin the Capercaillies where they 

 have become numerous. Mr Geikie, factor to the Earl of 

 Airlie, lately informed me that he has seen as many as fifteen 

 brace killed in a day by one shooting party. These birds are 

 also abundant on the estate of the Earl of Breadalbane, where 

 of late years they have increased to a great extent Stray birds 

 are often seen in the counties adjacent to the two just mentioned. 

 Numbers are sent to the Glasgow poulterers, but from the rank- 

 ness of their flesh they are not much esteemed for the table — a 



* From Mr Gray's forthcoming work on the Birds of Scotland, noticed at p. 20. 



